Removable bucket holding and operating sheave apparatus



Nov. 22, 1966 G. F. THOMPSON 3,286,863

REMOVABLE BUCKET HOLDING AND OPERATING SHEAVE APPARATUS Nov. 22, 1966 G. F. THOMPSON 3,286,863

REMOVABLE BUCKET HOLDING AND OPERATING SHEAVE APPARATUS Filed Nov. l5, 1963 4 Sheets-Shea?I 2 INVENTOR. GEORGE F THOMPso/v BY JM M @f Nov. 22, 1966 G. F. THOMPSON 3,286,863

REMOVABLE BUCKET HOLDING AND OPERATING SHEAVE APPARATUS Filed Nov. l5, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 f4 f5 403 I6 /7 I N VEN TOR. 650965 F /oMPO/v BY JM, M wf@ NOV. 22, 1966 G. F. THOMPSON REMOVABLE BUCKET HOLDING AND OPERATING SHEAVE APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet t Filed Nov. l5, 1965 I NVEN TORA GEORGE f?" 77/0MP50/v BY ,ww

United States Patent() This invention relates, as indicated, to an improved bucket holding and operating sheave apparatus for a clamshell scoop type bucket, and to a clamshell type fbucket incorporating such a removable holding and operating sheave apparatus. i

lTransportation of bulk goods by water in bulk carrying vessels not infrequently encounters a situation where a given vessel will carry one material in one direction, and a different material in another direction. For example, grain or gravel may be'carried in lone direction, and alumina or finely divided sand on the return trip. The trans'- fer of these materials between the vessel and the pier is frequently accomplished with' clamshell scoop type buckets. One of the principal problems in changing cargo ma* terials is that different materials require different constructions of clamshell scoop type buckets. For example, a bucket of the type whichis used for the transfer of iron ore cannot be used for the transfer of finely divided material such as alumina. The different how characteristics, compacting characteristics, etc. necessitate different designs for the transfer buckets.

Each bucket is normally provided as an integral part thereof with separate sheave means for holding or raising and lowering the bucket, and sheave means for operating the bucket to open and close the scoops. Changing buckets when changing materials, for example after unloading one material and preparing to load another, is a time consuming undertaking. l

It has now been found that the problem can be greatly alleviated by providing a removable holding and operating sheave apparatus and a plurality of clamshell bucket assemblies, each adapted to receivev a single sheave apparatus and be operated thereby. In this manner, a vessel may be provided with a gantry crane mounted for travel fore and aft along the deck of a vessel for positioning over various hatches, and provided with a lateral extension to enable positioning of the bucket over the pier. This is conventional structure for gantries of this type. Suspended from the gantry, then, there is provided a removable holding and operating sheave apparatus of the type hereinafter more particularly described. Several buckets which are so proportioned and designed as to be adapted for fitting with the removable holding and operating sheave apparatus are stored on the pier at each port to be visited by a vessel so equipped. Upon docking at the pier, the gantry extension is disposed over the pier, and the crane operated to position the holding and operating sheave apparatus over a particular clamshell scoop type bucket adapted for handling the cargo on the vessel. By the simple expedient of inserting pins through mating parts, the removable sheave apparatus is secured to the desired bucket, and loading or unloading operation is carried out with such bucket. After the transfer has been effected, the bucket is removed from theV sheave apparatus and the bucket again stored at the pier. Upon arrival at the next port, the vessel repeats the operation selecting from a number of differently designed buckets, that bucket 3,286,863 Patented Nov. 22, 1966 which is particularly adapted for handling the current cargo. After unloading with that bucket, the sheave apparatus may be removed therefrom, and another bucket attached thereto in the same manner, and a new cargo of different material loaded into the vessel for return to the original port.

The present invention is, therefore, in a removable holding and operating sheave apparatus for a clamshell scoop type bucket, and a bucket apparatus including such a removable structure.

I'he invention may be better understood by having reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a removable holding and operating sheave apparatus for a clamshell scoop type bucket in accordance with the present invention and showing the upper sheave block and the lower sheave block secured together so that the entire apparatus may be used as a hook for unloading materials by a net, or by means of ropes. As shown in FIG. l, the upper sheave block is bolted to the lower sheave block so that the apparatus may be operated as a unit.

FIG. 2 is aside elevation of a clamshell scoop type bucket having the removable holding and operating sheave apparatus secured thereto and ready for operation.

FIG. 3 is an'end view of the clamshell scoop type bucket shown in FIG. 2,.

' FIG. 4 is a fragmentaryl side elevation of a different type of clamshell bucket adapted for handling finely di-- vided dusty materials, such as alumina, and showing interlocking sealing lips on the scoops and dust covers on the upper portions of each of the scoops.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 diagrammatically represent the mode of attachment of the removable holding and operating sheave apparatus to a clamshell scoop type bucket disposed in position for receiving the sheave apparatus. In FIG. 5, the sheave apparatus is bolted together to form a unit. In FIG. 6 the unit has been inserted into the head frame, and the upper sheave block bolted or pinned thereto. In FIG. 7, the bolts securing the lower sheave block to the upper sheave block have been removed, and the lower sheave block is being lowered into position in the crosshead frame. In FIG. 8, the lower sheave block is now pinned into position in the crosshead frame.

Briefly stated, then, the present invention is in the provision of a removable holding and operating sheave apparatus for a clamshell scoop type bucket having a pair of confronting scoops, a head frame, a linking means coacting between the head frame and the scoops, a crosshead frame to which the scoops are hingedly secured, and in which the removable sheave apparatus includes in combination an upper sheave block and a lower sheave block which are adapted to be bolted together to form a single unit. The upper sheave block is provided with a plurality of upper sheaves including at least one holding cable receiving sheave rotatably mounted therein, the upper sheave block being adapted to coact with the head frame for raising, lowering, and holding the bucket. The lower sheave block is provided with a plurality of lower bucket scoop closing cable receiving sheaves rotatably mounted therein and is adapted to ycoact with the crosshead frame for closing and opening the bucket scoops. Means areV Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is here shown in perspective a removable holding and operating sheave apparatus for a clamshell scoop type bucket. As shown in FIG. 1, there is provided an upper sheave block, generally indicated at and a lower sheave block, generally indicated at 11. Upper sheave block 10 is provided with housings 12 and 13 containing rollers for guiding the closing lines 14 and 14, and the hold lines 16 and 17 and maintaining them in proper alignment with the respective sheaves. The upper rollers are mounted on upper roller pins 18 and 19, and the lower rollers, not shown, are mounted on lower roller pins 20, 21, 22 and 23.

The main body of the upper sheave block 10 .is generally rectangul-ar in shape, opposite walls being provided with downwardly depending sheave pin supporting arms 24 and 25 and supporting upper sheave pin (not shown in FIG. l), but located adjacent hole 26. The distal extremities of arms 24 and 25 are disposed below the peripheries of the sheaves 27 and provided with flanges 28 and 29. In order to provide accessibility to a bolt, not

shown, hand hole 30 is provided through arm 24. The main body 9 of the upper sheave block 10 is also provided with .pin receiving tubes 31` and 32 extending transversely through the upper sheave block 10. Tubes 31 and 32 provide means for receiving pins, not shown in FIG. 1, for supporting the upper' sheave block in the head frame of a clamshell scoop type bucket such `as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. v

Upper sheave block body 9 is also conveniently provided with screw pin anchor shackles 33, 34 and 35, a fourth shackle being provided, but not shown in FIG. 1.

As will be better shown in subsequent figures, sheave pin 26a ihas rotatably mounted thereon a plurality of cable receiving sheaves 27, 36 and 37, sheave 37 being almost completely obscured by sheave guard 38.` In the embodisheave block plates 40 and 41, plates 40 and 41 being maintained in spaced relation by spacer bars such as spacer bar 42, pin receiving tubes 43 and 44, and curved bottom plate 45. End plates 40 and 41 have secured thereto upstanding sheave pin supporting arms such as sheave pin supporting arm 46, the lower extremity of which provides a. hub 47 for supporting lower sheave pin 48, and the upper extremity of which terminates in a ange 49 adapted for mating coaction with ange 28 of downwardly depending arm 24. Flanges 28 and 49 are adapted to be bolted together or otherwise securedito provide a unitary sheave apparatus for operating swivel hook 50. Swivel hook 50 is supported `from bottom plate a complete clamshell scoop type bucket assembly including the removable holding and operating sheave apparatus of the present invention. Corresponding parts in the drawings are given corresponding numbers for easy reference.

There is shown in FIGS.2 and 3, therefore, a clamshell scoop type bucket having a pair of cooperating scoop elements 60 and 61, the confronting marginal edges thereof being provided with lips 62 and 63.1 The upper marginal edges of the scoops 60 and 61l are each provided with marginal ban-ds 64 and 65,;respectively, continuations of each of which form backbands 66 and 67 respectively.

At the corners defined by the upper marginal edges of each of the scoops 60 and 61 there are provided corner` brackets such as corner bracket left 68, and corner bracket right 69. Extending upwardly from each of the corner brackets, and rotatable with respect thereto are corner bar frames 70 and 71, the corresponding opposite corner bar frames 70' and 71 not shown in FIG. 2, corner bar frame 71 being shown in FIG. 3. Corner bar frames 70 and 71 are pivoted tothe corner bracket 68 and 69, respectively by means of corner pins 72 and 73, there being corresponding structure on the opposite cornersnot visible in4 FIG. 2.' The corner bar frames extend `between `the rear marginal edges of the scoops 60 and 61fto the head frame 74 to which they are pivoted by means of pins 75 and 76; respectively, Corner bar frames 70 and 71 are each provided attheir head frame extremities with laterally extending equalizer arms 77 and 78, the distal .extremities of which are pivotally secured by means of pivot pins 79 and 80 to equalizer link 81.

The forward upper marginal edges of each of the scoops 60 and 61 are provided with hinges 82 and 83, respectively which extend upwardly therefrom. Hinges 82 and 83 i pivot about hinge pins 84 and 85, respectively which are tied together by means of hinge link 86. t The confronting marginal edges of hinges 82 and 83 are each provided with gear segments 87 and 88 maintained inintermeshing relationship by means of hinge link` 86, and serving to cause uniform opening and closing of the scoops 60 and 61..

Disposed between the hinges 82 and 83 is crosshead 89` which serves as a support for the hinge pins 84 and 85 on` ceiving tubes 43 and 44 and through the opposite side of they crosshead frame serve to secure the pulley block 11 in proper position in the bucket assembly.

` Sheaves 55, 56 and 57 are mounted for rotation on sheave pin `48 and receive loops of closing cable 58 disposed With respect to sheaves 55, 56 and 57 in lower pulley block 11 and sheaves 36 and 27 in upper sheave block 10 in a eet through reeving system.

Thus, there is provided a removable holding and operating sheave apparatus yadapted to position the bucket, raise it or lower it as may be desired, and to operate the bucket by opening and closing the same to discharge and load a bulk material.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are side and end views, respectively, of

bumper pads 90`and 91 on hinges 82 and 83, respectively,

are in contacting relationship and serve to stop further opening of the scoops 60 and 61.

Equalizer arms 77 and 78 are each provided with holes` 93 and 94, respectively, which are so positioned in the equalizer` arms that when the bucket is in the fully opened position (see FIGS. 5-8) that pins 95 and 96 may be inserted through `the holes 93 and 94, `to secure the upper sheave block 10 to the head frame 74. Of course, when pins 95 `and 96 lare in proper position in the head frame 74 and through pin tubes 31 and 32, they do not interfere with the movement of the equalizer arms 77 and 78. t

In like manner, crosshead 89` is provided with spaced transverse means 96 and 97 which are in turn suitably pierced for receipt ofr supporting pins 98 and 99 for holding the lower sheave block in position inthe crosshead 89.

It will be observed in FIGS. 2 and 3 that when the upper sheave block 10 and the lower sheave block 11 are in their respective positions in the upper head frame 74,'

and lower sheave block 11 is in place in the crosshead 89, and the bucket is fully closed as shown -in FIG. 2, the

respective upper pulley block 10 and lower pulley blockv 11 are spaced apart, flanges 28 and 49 having been separated by removal of the bolt means.

FIGS. 2 and 3 also shown portions of the closing lines 14 and 17, and portions of the holding lines 15 and 16` extending through the roller supporting frames 12 and 13, l

(c) a single holding cable engaging sheave rotatably mounted on said upper sheave pin,

(d) a pair of bucket closing cable receiving sheaves rotatably mounted on said upper sheave pin,

(e) a lower sheave block having sheave pin supporting arms extending towards said oppositely disposed upper sheave pin support arms,

(f) spaced end plates secured to the extremities of said lower sheave pin supporting arms, respectively and spacer bars for maintaining said end plates in fixed spaced relation to each other,

(g) a lower sheave pin extending between said lower sheave pin supporting arms, the axis of which lies in a plane parallel to the plane of the axis of said upper sheave pin, said lower sheave pin being disposed at an langle relative to said upper sheave pin,

(h) three bucket scoop closing cable receiving sheaves rotatably mounted on said lower sheave pin,

(i) said upper sheave block including pin receiving means for releasably securing said upper sheave block to said head frame,

(j) said lower sheave block including pin receiving means for releasably securing said lower sheave block to said crosshead frame, and,

(k) releasable fastening means for securing the extremities of the upper sheave pin supporting arms to the confronting extremities of the lower sheave pin sup- One of the ends of the closing cable portions, either 14 or 17, is secured to a lixed point on the gantry crane, while the opposite extremity is secured lto a drum for controlling the opening and closing of the bucket. In like manner, one of the portions or 16 of the holding line is secured to a xed 'point on the gantry crane, and the opposite extremityis secured -to a separate drum for controlling the position of the bucket.l Both the holding cable and the closing cable are reeved through the proper pulley blocks without being tied to any portion thereof. 10 Such reeving is well understood by lthose skilled in the art and need not be further elaborated herein.

FIG. 4 shows a different form of scoop design for use with `the apparatus of FIG. l which is partially shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. The bucket design of FIG. 4 is l5 especially adapted 'for use in handling very nely divided materials, such as silica our or alumina. Accordingly, there are provided a pair of confronting scoop portions 110 and 111, the confronting marginal edges being provided with interlocking lips 112 and 113, the lip 112 hav- 20 ing a tongue portion 114 adapted to lit into a corresponding groove portion 115 in lip 113. Lip 113 at the bottom of groove 115 is also provided with a resilient liner 116, such as 1a hard rubber sealing gasket 116, against which tongue portion 114 is brought into tight contacting 25 relation. A very nely divided material such as alumina has almost the rheological properties of water, and hence special design of the bucket is required for handling this Porting arms, respectivelymaterial as distinguished from those which are required 2- A 'bulk material transferring 4apparatus Comprising for the handling of other materials. Also, there are in Combinatiml provided dust covers 117 and 118 which cut down the (a) a Clamshell SCOOP tYPe bucket ila-Vingt loss of material. In all other respects, the bucket struc- (1) a Pail' 0f Confronting mating SCOOPS, ture is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. 2. (2) a head frame disposed above said SCOOPS,

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 yand 8 diagrammaiioaliy illustrato the (3) linking means eoaeting between frame and procedure for installing the removable sheave block assaid s000135, sembly with a clamshell scoop type bucket designed for (4) aCl'OsSilead frame handling a particular material. The bucket is disposed (5) hmge mean? Coactmg betWeen-Said cfpsshead on a pier, for example, in the open position as shown in fran'e am? Sad scoOPS t0 perm1t @Pemng 'and FIG. 5. The removable sheave block assembly, the sub- Closing Said SCOQPS, 'and u assemblies 10 and 11 of which are bolted together Ias pre- 40 (b) a remqvable holdmg and Operatmg sheave aPP'a viously indicated by means of bolt 120 is positioned above mms havmg:

Ithe head frame 74 as shown in FIG. 5. The holding cable 16 is payed out from convention-al drum means on the gantry crane, not shown, to position the upper sheave (l) vari upper sheave block having oppositely disposed -upper sheave pin supporting aims extending therefrom,

block within the head frame 74 so as to be able to receive 45 (2) 'ail uliper Sileav? p19 extending betweeli and holding pins 95 and 96, as shown in FIG. 6. At this halug s am lymg m a Plane pefpendculaf point, the bolts 120 are removed so that the lower pulley to salfi arms block 11 may be positioned 'within the crosshead 89, =as (3) a Smgle holdmg (fable englagmg Sheiwe rotata' shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 shows the lower sheave block bly munted on Sald llpper sheavepfn 11 in position in the crosshead 89 with holding pins 9s 50 (4) apa of bucketclosmeoable felvmg sheaves and 99 in position. At this point, the holding cable 16, rotatably mounted nu Sald u1.) per she'aie pm. and the closing cable 14 may be operated independently, (5) a lower Sheave block .havmg opposlteiy d1s` and the bucket used in the normal manner. In order to posed she-ave pm Suppomng. arms eXte-ndmg to' remove the sheave block assembly from the bucket after Wards Said upper sheave pm Supporting alims transferring a given material therewith, the procedure (6) Spa-ced end plates sequred to th-e extremlties diagrammed in FIGS. 5 to 8 inclusive are simply reversed. of sa-ld 110W sheave pm Supporting -alms r?- Other modes of applying the principle of this invention spcu/e y 'Eindspacer bars fm: mamtlammg Sald may be employed instead of those specifically set forth 76D gates 81h Xed Space Ie algien 1o each othe-r above, changes being made as regards the details herein l) a miler eaive pm exim ng betweenSaud disclosed, provided the elements set forth in any of the 036i eaYe Pm lsupportmlgi rmshthe axis of following claims, or the equivalent of such be employed. glelcaxisleflradpujrpae poiut ailawgf clalfml ieolfay pomted out and dlstmctly heav Pin beilpg disposed at au angle relative j osa1 uppers eave 1n,

1' A removable holdmg and Operatmg s heave aPPa 65 (8) three bucket scop closing cable receiving fatus f01" a Ciamsheii SCOOP type bueket hal/111g la Palf 0f sheaves rotatably mounted on said lower sheave confronting scoops, a head frame, lmlong means coactpin, ing between said frame and said scoops, a crosshead -frame (9) Said upper sheave block including pin reto which said scoops are hingedly secured, said removable ceiving means for releasably securing said upper sheave apparatus including in combination: sheave block to said head frame,

(a) an oppositely disposed upper sheave block having (10) said lower sheave block including pin re- -upper sheave pin supporting arms extending thereceiving means for releasably securing said lower from, sheave -block to said crosshead frame, and,

(b) an upper sheave pin extending between and having (ll) releasable fastening means forV securing the its axis lying in a plane perpendicular to said arms, extremities of the upper sheave pin supporting larms to the confronting extremities of the lower 2,129,158 9/1938- Williams 37-71 sheave pin supporting `arms, respectively. 2,177,196 10/ 1939 Williams 37-71 2,522,466 9/ 1950 Schneider 214-656 X References Cited by the Examiner l FOREIGN, PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 284,248 s/1952 switzerland. 1,238,184 8/1917 Norris 214-656 n 1,419,167P 6/1922 Norris 214 656 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary-Examiner.

2,128,778 8/ 1938 Johnson 214-656 R. B. JOHNSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A REMOVABLE HOLDING AND OPERATING SHEAVE APPARATUS FOR A CLAMSHELL SCOOP TYPE BUCKET HAVING A PAIR OF CONFRONTING SCOOPS, A HEAD FRAME, LINKING MEANS COACTING BETWEEN SAID FRAME AND SAID SCOOPS, A CROSSHEAD FRAME TO WHICH SAID SCOOPS ARE HINGEDLY SECURED, SAID REMOVABLE SHEAVE APPARATUS INCLUDING IN COMBINATION: (A) AN OPPOSITELY DISPOSED UPPER SHEAVE BLOCK HAVING UPPER SHEAVE PIN SUPPORTING ARMS EXTENDING THEREFROM, (B) AN UPPER SHEAVE PIN EXTENDING BETWEEN AND HAVING ITS AXIS LYING IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO SAID ARMS (C) A SINGLE HOLDING CABLE ENGAGINE SHEAVE ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID UPPER SHEAVE PIN, (D) A PAIR OF BUCKET CLOSING CABLE RECEIVING SHEAVES ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID UPPER PIN, (E) A LOWER SHEAVE BLOCK HAVING SHEAVE PIN SUPPORTING ARMS EXTENDING TOWARDS SAID OPPOSITELY DISPOSED UPPER SHEAVE PIN SUPPORT ARMS, (F) SPACED END PLATES SECURED TO THE EXTREMITIES OF SAID LOWER SHEAVE PIN SUPPORTING ARMS, RESPECTIVELY AND SPACER BARS FOR MAINTAINING SAID END PLATES IN FIXED SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER, (G) A LOWER SHEAVE PIN EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID LOWER SHEAVE PIN SUPPORTING ARMS, THE AXIS OF WHICH LIES IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF THE AXIS OF SAID UPPER SHEAVE PIN, SAID LOWER SHEAVE PIN BEING DISPOSED AT AN ANGLE RELATIVE TO SAID UPPER SHEAVE PIN, (H) THREE BUCKET SCOOP CLOSING CABLE RECEIVING SHEAVES ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID LOWER SHEAVE PIN, (I) SAID UPPER SHEAVE BLOCK INCLUDING PIN RECEIVING MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID UPPER SHEAVE BLOCK TO SAID HEAD FRAME, (J) SAID LOWER SHEAVE BLOCK INCLUDING PIN RECEIVING MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID LOWER SHEAVE BLOCK TO SAID CROSSHEAD FRAME, AND, (K) RELEASABLE FASTENING MEANS FOR SECURING THE EXTREMITIES OF THE UPPER SHEAVE PIN SUPPORTING ARMS TO THE CONFRONTING EXTREMITIES OF THE LOWER SHEAVE PIN SUPPORTING ARMS, RESPECTIVELY. 